MANILA, Philippines — Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte has proposed a bill that would require all elected and appointed officials, including the president, to undergo “mandatory random” drug testing every six months.
House Bill (HB) 10744 proposed that all elected and appointed public officials, including the President of the Philippines, must undergo random drug testing every six months using hair follicle tests.
The bill also aims to introduce voluntary random drug testing for candidates running for office within 90 days before Election Day. This would amend Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The proposed legislation states that elected and appointed officials who test positive for drugs could be suspended or removed from office. It also permits candidates running for electoral positions to voluntarily undergo drug testing within 90 days before Election Day.
In his explanatory note, Duterte said that elected and appointed officials should not receive exemptions from mandatory random drug testing, adding that these officials must exemplify modesty and integrity in their leadership.
“Considering the initiatives towards the deterrence of drug use and abuse, exemptions or favors in the mandatory nature of random drug testing shall not extend to certain class privileges, such as the elected and appointed officials, since it becomes imperative upon their own mandate that they shall lead the life of modesty and integrity,” Duterte said.
Under the proposal, the Department of Health is responsible for working with accredited drug testing centers to establish pricing for drug tests, aiming to lower their costs.
Certificates from accredited drug testing centers will be valid for one year from the date of issuance and can be utilized for various purposes, it said.
To recall, his father and former President Rodrigo Duterte criticized President Marcos Jr. by repeatedly labeling him a “drug addict” during a prayer rally in Davao City in January.
The former chief executive claimed that Marcos’ name was included in the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
It was belied by the agency the next day.
“The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency categorically states that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., is not on its watch list, contrary to the statement of former President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming that ‘when he was the Mayor of Davao, he was shown evidence by PDEA that in the list, the name of the president was there,” PDEA said.
It also said that Marcos has never been listed in the National Drug Information System since the agency’s establishment in 2002.
Marcos hit back at Duterte and said maybe the reason the former chief executive is firing at him with those allegations is because of fentanyl.
“I think it’s the Fentanyl. Fentanyl is the strongest pain killer that you can buy. It is highly addictive and it has very serious side effects, and PRRD has been taking the drug for a very long time now,” Marcos said.
